Justified
(Loveless, Texas #1)
By: Jay Crownover
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Trope: Small Town/Cowboy
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: June 25th, 2016
Blurb:
The New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men series delivers a romance about a rugged Texas sheriff who must protect the woman who was once his sworn enemy…
Case Lawton comes from a family of criminals. So as the sheriff of Loveless, Texas, he’s determined to do everything by the book–until he’s called to Aspen Barlow’s office after a so-called break-in. The last thing he wants to do is help the woman who cost him custody of his son. But Aspen isn’t the heartless lawyer Case remembers, and he starts to question his long-held grudge…
Aspen is scared for her life, and Case is her last hope for protection. But to get him on her side, she’ll have to reveal the painful truth from all those years ago. Now, as they work together to track down a dangerous criminal, Case and Aspen learn to trust each other. And as the threats escalate, it becomes clear there’s a thin line between love and hate… because there’s nothing Case wouldn’t do to keep her safe.
YES! That’s exactly how you start a new series! When I first opened my mailbox and found this bad boy inside, I was freaking over the moon, best book mail ever, so I want to start this review by thanking Forever Romance and Jay Crownover for sending me this beauty for review! Thank you! After reading the prequel for the Loveless, Texas series and absolutely loving everything about it, I knew right away after finishing Unbroken that I needed to get my hands on Case Lawton’s story… and Justified exceeded all of my emotional expectations.
About Justified:
Case Lawton is now the Sheriff of Loveless, Texas. Becoming someone the town and his family can look up to is his greatest ambition. It’s the least the town deserves, given the fact that the last sheriff that was in charge was dirty as the mud on the soles of his boots. And if anyone knows how dirty the old Sheriff played, it would be his own flesh and blood.
Nine years ago, Case Lawton nearly lost the trust and reputation he was working so hard to gain, during a horrible custody battle over his young son Hayes. And at the root of all his problems stood a fair skin and raven haired beauty named Aspen, his ex wife’s attorney.
Now years later, Someone is after Aspen and Case is going to see that the person who’s after her doesn’t get away. In the process of protection duty, he’s about to learn that Aspen isn’t the raven haired devil he always saw her as. In fact, when he finds out the truth behind what happened all those years ago, he’s going to feel like a real ass.
My Thoughts:
I am a sucker for cowboy romances! The more I read the more I want. I went into Justified knowing very little about it. I knew Case was the broody, sexy as hell sheriff and the oldest of the Lawton clan. What I didn’t know was where his story was going to lead. All I knew was I needed this sexy sheriff in my life.
After reading Justified I have to say, I really freaking loved the suspense and the who did it aspect. I love a great mystery woven in a romance novel. Sometimes I know who the culprit is and other times the author blows me sky high with who did it. In Justified, I have to honestly say, I knew who the culprit was the whole time. It was a tad bit predictable from the start, a few to many hints dropped for it to be a complete surprise. Usually with suspense type novels, I find myself getting bored if I predicted the outcome, however, I found myself not really caring about that aspect the more I started to read. I quickly became consumed by Case and Aspen’s romance.
I loved the slow burn, enemies to lovers vibe between Case and Aspen. Case has to deal with the demon’s of the past and as he spends more time on protection duty. Aspen slowly chips at the hard broody exterior he’s put up. He thinks his mask is impenetrable, but we readers see all.
One thing I wish for, is more moments between Case and Hayes. I love single parent books, especially single father books, and one reason is the emotional connection between the father and the child he is fighting for. I wanted a bit more moments between Case and his son. I understand his son is eighteen and all, but there are still life lessons that need to be taught at that age. I wanted that chance to see more of a softer side with Case.
Overall, this was a great read. Justified will have you reading the day away. Trust me when I say, you won’t be able to put this sexy cowboy down!
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Amazon: https://amzn.to/2X2YcfY
Amazon Worldwide: http://viewbook.at/justifiedJC
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2J65pC4
Peace Love and Happy Reading,
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